Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros guffawed. "You know, he might deserve a slap in the face, but beating him halfway to death probably wouldn't help him learn." His grin lowered into a smile. "It has been a long time. He may indeed have changed for the better. Perhaps I'll talk to him at the wedding."

Fendros strode on with optimism. The temple wasn't far to walk.

---

Sabine dearly wished she knew at least as much about the book as Meesei did. Meesei's lack of confidence in her tone did not help either. "If you do that, is there a way we can help? I do not want you to go alone."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros hummed an agreement and walked alongside Ahnasha. He had a smile on his lips, but other things were troubling his eyes. "What do you think of Monderyn?" Fendros asked. "It seems like he has changed, but he was still rather reluctant to talk to you. Do you think he feels ashamed or has he really let go of his opinions? It's so drastic that I hardly recognised him."

---

Sabine blinked slowly and looked away. Meesei knew what she was doing and she knew what the risks were. Arguing them would be unlikely to stop her.

"What knowledge would you give?" Sabine asked quietly.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I know," Fendros breathed. He swallowed and squeezed Ahnasha's hands tighter for a moment before speaking. "I am unsure whether he will attend at all. He..." Fendros closed his mouth and hesitated. "That may have looked like a tantrum but...what he said back there, I have no reason to believe that he will take any of it back. I dishonoured him, the family, and our ancestors, and now I am disowned."

Fendros turned his head to one side, looking at the vineyard again. "I would not be surprised if he pretended I did not exist if I went to speak with him right now." Fendros blinked a few times, but otherwise remained monotonous. "If he wants to attend the wedding, I'll try to talk to him. If he does not want to do anything but disrupt it or cut me off from mother, or my brother or sister, or even the pack, I will ask him to leave. He is powerful, but he would not dare cause violence in the temple. Even if he does, the pack will be there."

---

Sabine was silent but for her breathing for a moment. Even if Meesei's words were true, Sabine wasn't convinced.

"I am still worried." Sabine brought one hand up to her own shoulder and stared at the closed book. "The last time we tried to get help from a Daedra, we had to help destroy a town, Ahnasha and Fendros were tortured, and Rhazii was injured. Both us and the cult got what they wanted, but it cost more than we thought they could take away." Sabine brought her eyes to Meesei's again. "What if Mora tries to take something away from you without stopping your ability to fight Vile? You could harm yourself, or a clan, or one of us. You saw the cultists, they did not care about their own lives. Why should Mora care about yours or ours?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Welp, that's Murphy's law for you...again.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Though their embrace was brief, Llarasa held onto Ahnasha tightly before they pulled away. "It was a pleasure to meet you again, Ahnasha. I cannot wait for the wedding." Her broad smile wavered as she clasped her hands. "I am...sorry about mother and father. You did not deserve that treatment from them."

"We walked in accepting that it might be that way," Fendros assured. He gave Llarasa a hug as well. "Thank you so much, Llarasa."

"I'm glad you came back, brother." Llarasa turned her head to the door while she held Fendros. "Monderyn's keeping an eye on the vines for father. He goes back to work when he is cross. I'm sorry that they're not here, but I will make sure Monderyn comes along tomorrow, at least."

"I understand. Thank you."

Llarasa watched from the door as Ahnasha and Fendros exited the same way as they arrived; with unsure footsteps. The last few hours had been as harrowing as they had been pleasant. Fendros did not feel as though he had properly closed the issues with his family, but he had begun the process of healing them.

Fendros was silent for a while as they left, wearing a small frown and looking at the ground in front of him. Only after a few steps on the road did he take Ahnasha's hand. "Ahna..." He stopped and slowly pulled her into a tight embrace, bringing one hand up to the back of her head. He stayed standing with her while the tension he had been holding for hours began to ebb. After a moment, he brought his lips to her forehead in a still and loving kiss.

"You have no idea how grateful I am that you were there," he whispered. "I would have made a true mess of things otherwise." A waver in his voice hinted at suppressed emotion. "I know it was hard. I love you, Ahna."

---

"Meesei," Sabine murmured and swallowed back her fear. She leaned forward to place a hand on Meesei's arm. "You do not have to feel powerless. We were not there to help you. We all wish we were, so then...all of that might not have happened." Sabine wasn't much for giving advice, least of all to her mentor, but she tried to ignore her uncertainty and continue. "It is hard, but we are making progress on the soul tearing gas. Please do not make deals with Daedra to try and get power...You know what happens to people who try to get knowledge from Mora. Please."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

If only.

I just wish you guys had a better electoral system than the college and first past the post. We had poor major party candidates in our last election and my seat (normally considered very safe) elected a third party candidate out of the blue because people could afford to do that with the preference voting. It was great.

Oh well, the world survived the Bushes, it can probably survive whoever wins this one.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

No problem, I'm at work today anyway. Everyone's got their eye close to the election. It's a close game.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Again, there was no response from Calia. Fendros began to glance around anxiously. There wasn't much else they could say.

"I will consider your invitation, my son." The low words sounded much closer to the door than they had expected, as if Calia was standing on the other side rather than sleeping.

An invisible burden seemed to slough off Fendros' shoulders. He bowed his head forward. "Thank you, mother."

Judging by the tone of her response, Fendros reckoned that Calia was unlikely to be much more talkative. He took Ahnasha by the hand, smiled, and strode to the stairs again.

Llarasa was waiting for them, picking at her fingers. Her head shot up to them at the first creaking stair. "Any luck?"

"She said she'll consider it," Fendros said.

Llarasa smiled with the same hope Fendros had. "That's good news. I do hope she comes along." Her eyes flicked to the door. "I suppose you'll be going now. I'll see you tomorrow."

---

Sabine sat quietly for as long as she was needed, rubbing Meesei on the back during her breaks to comfort her. She kept telling herself that she would get used to seeing Meesei in such a state, but it was always hurtful.

When Meesei's pain-blurred stupor revealed the book that had sprung forth Hermaeus More himself, Sabine squinted her eyes for a moment, and then widened them.

While Meesei took her medicine, Sabine leaned forward to open the bag again. She wasn't quite brave enough to touch it. "Meesei, is this...?" She lowered her brow in equal parts worry and confusion. "Why is this here?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros nodded and slid his hand from Ahnasha's shoulder.

Before they reached the stairs, Monderyn spoke up from behind them. "If father returns early, I will keep him occupied before he reaches you."

"Understood," Fendros responded. He didn't exactly want to think about that eventuality.

The position of his parents' room had not changed since Fendros left, so he led Ahnasha up to the second floor without a word. He craned his head to listen to the other side of the door as he softly rapped on it with a knuckle. "Mother?" he called out softly. "Are you awake?"

They waited for a few seconds without a response from Calia.

"Look, I am sorry that I shocked you with all of this. I still love you, mother." Fendros continued.

Fendros exchanged a glance with Ahnasha, remembering what she suggested. They should be direct. "We are planning on having our wedding ceremony tomorrow. All of my new friends will be there, as will my son. It would be a pleasure to see you and the family there."

Fendros paused again, this time looking at Ahnasha in case she wanted to say anything further.

---

Sabine had been tension the fire that afternoon. There was not much to do after it got going and she had let her mind wander. There were worries, as always, but nothing she couldn't manage or distract herself from.

So idle, Meesei could not have escaped Sabine's notice if she tried. It was that time again. Although Sabine found Meesei's pain unbearable to witness, she never wanted her to bear it alone. As was often the case at such times, Sabine crept into Meesei's tent after her and sat down quietly without making eye contact.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I think we can do a quick scene with Calia while starting the next scene. I don't know whether to call it difficult, but it shouldn't take long.